It's time to catch up on news and commentary elsewhere about the Chargers.

• Former NFL safety Rod Woodson said he likes how Donald Brown "hit the hole" last year and expects the ex-Colts running back to succeed "because he doesn't have to be the guy." Two of Woodson's colleagues at NFL.com praised Brown as well, saying his "vision" and "patience" are strengths.

My take: Brown fits the Bolts. He should combine with Mathews and Danny Woodhead to form one of the NFL's better running back groups.

• NFL.com's Chris Wesseling wrote of the AFC West: "A month into the new league year, Kansas City and Oakland have met San Diego in the middle as Elway's team continues to pull further away from the pack."

My take: The Raiders haven't met San Diego. The Raiders are capable of beating the Chargers, sure, but would need a lot of luck to finish ahead of them next season. As for the Chiefs, their offseason so far ranks last in the AFC West.

• Wesseling called on the Chargers to reward Ryan Mathews. "Mathews has earned a contract extension by running as hard as any back in the league last season," he wrote. "It wasn't a great sign when Telesco gave Donald Brown a higher annual average than most running backs have landed on the open market."

My take: Mathews outperformed his salary last season. Unfortunately, the collisions the 6-foot, 215-pounder endured may reduce his effectiveness in time. It makes sense to wait to see how his body holds up before committing money to 2015, when he will be 28.

• Melvin Ingram impresses former Browns scout Matt Williamson, who said, via ESPN, that Ingram will emerge as a frontline player once he's fully healed from knee surgery.

My take: The Chargers went 5-1 following Ingram's remarkable comeback from the reconstructive surgery last season. All signs point to his third NFL season being his best to date. Eric Weddle is a fan of Ingram's, too. But he cautioned last January against runaway expectations. Ingram has to show he can handle a starter's load for a full season. Also, he is learning how to tackle NFL athletes and outmaneuver left tackles.

• NFL.com rated the Raiders' defensive line as the division's most improved positional group, followed by the Broncos' secondary.

My take: The Raiders improved their line's know-how and versatility by adding longtime starters Justin Tuck, Antonio Smith, LaMarr Woodley and by retaining Pat Sims. What the article didn't note is that none of additions are as good as end Lamarr Houston, 26, who left to sign with the Bears despite interest from Oakland. The newcomers are all past their prime years, though Tuck, 31, looked fresh down the stretch last season.

• Williamson, the former Browns scout, is not a fan of San Diego signing running back Donald Brown to a three-year, $10.4 million deal. He argued the Chargers could have used that money in free agency to address other positions where depth was more of an issue. “What if (Corey) Liuget gets hurt? They don’t have an answer,” Williamson said.

My take: While every dollar counts, Brown should help the entire offense and the investment provides a hedge in 2015, when Mathews and Woodhead can enter free agency. It is not clear that signing Brown prevented the Chargers from signing a backup to Liuget. The Chargers probably should address their depth behind Liuget and Kendall Reyes.

• The Chargers will draft Louis Nix III with the 25th pick, projected three of four draft analysts at CBSSports.com. The exception, Rob Rang, wrote up cornerback Kyle Fuller as San Diego's first pick.

My take: A special nose tackle would be of immense help to the Chargers. Nix was impressive in 2012 but tailed off in 2013. If the Chargers believe 2012 was the real Nix, taking him 25th would make a lot of sense.

• Cornerback Brandon Ghee may be the most intriguing player the Chargers have signed in free agency, Michael Gehlken of the U-T said in his Monday chat. "He is someone the team brass liked coming out of college but just hasn't been able to show much since due to injuries. Ghee's two-year contract is a class above the deal CB Richard Marshall received," Gehlken said.

My take: Ghee is a mystery. He will be 27 in June yet has never started an NFL game. Good-sized at 6-foot and 190 pounds, he has a total of one interception in the last eight years. That came as a junior at Wake Forest. The Chargers may know him better than other teams. A fellow Wake Forest alum is John Spanos, the Chargers' vice president of football operations.